Franz markgraf



(No Model.) I

F, MARKGRAP. PRESSURE REGULATING VALVE.

110.878,101. y Patented Jan. 1o, 1888.

N PETERS, mmm. Wllhinghm. l, C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANZ MARKGRAF, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PRESSURE-REGULATING VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 376,101, dated January 10, 1888.

. Application filed January 20, 1887. Serial No. 224,945. (No model.)

mitting the escape of gas from the same whenever the pressure in said vessel rises beyond right angles to the former.

the normal pressure, to which the diaphragm of the regulating-valve is adjusted.

rlhe invention relates more especially to -a valve for regulating the pressure in casks of beer and other fermented liquors, so that the surplus of carbonio-acid gas generated in the same escapes automatically and in a very reliable manner when the pressure in the cask rises above the normal pressure in the same.

The invention consists of a closed casing provided with a iiexible diaphragm, the stem of which is acted uponv by a weighted lever, and with supply and discharge channels. To the'under side of the diaphragm is applied a curved spring, that carries a valve located above a valve-seat of the dischargechannel, thefree end of the spring being guided on fixed studs having rests forthe spring, as will be described more fully hereinafter, and finally be 'pointed out in the claim;

AIn the 'accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a side elevation of my improved pressure-regulating valve. Fig.` 2 is a vertical central section of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section online x m, Fig. l, taken at Fig. 4 is also a vertical central section of the pressure-regulating valve, showing a modified' construction of the sameyand Fig. 5 are details of the valve-spring and the studs for guiding the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondiug parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a closed valve-casing which is made of two-sections, the lower section being cast integral with the supply and discharge channels,

through which the gas is conducted from the cask to thechamber below the diaphragm and from'said chamber tothe atmosphere. The

upper section of the valvecasing A is provided', like the lower section, with anges and attached to the same by screws. A iiexible diaphragm, C, is interposed between the upper and lower sections of the valve-chamber A and retained liirrnly by thersame, in connection with an interposed ring-shaped washer, d. A re-enforcing metal cup, C', is applied to the upper side of the flexible diaphragm C, said cup carrying a central spindle, C2, which passes through the top of the valve-casing to the outside of the same. The spindle CI lis provided with a transverse opening, e, Fig. 2, through which passes the `knife-edged Afulcrum e of alever, D, which is pivoted to a post on the top of the upper section of the valvecasing, and which is made of two parallel' arms that are guided by asecond post, also at the upper section of the valve-casing, said post being provided with stop-pins at the upper and lower ends, between which the 4lever D oscillates. The pivot of the lever D is also formed with knife-edges, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to reduce thereby the friction of the same with the post and the spindle C2.

On the two-armed lever D is guided an ad justable weight, D', which is applied thereto by ascrewshank and thumb-scrcw,said weight resting on a spiral spring placed around a stem, so as to be properlycushioned. The lever D is graduated and the weight adjusted to said graduation by a slide-piece having a knife-edged Vindex or pointer, as shown in Fig. 2.

The lower section of the valvechamber'A is provided with a threaded supply-pipe, E, that is screwed `into the bushing of the cask, a rubber gasket and screw-nut on said pipe forming, with the head of the bushing, a kind of stuffing-box for preventing the escape of 'gas between the bushing and the supply-pipe. The supply-pipe E terminates in the chamber below the diaphragm C. At the center of the valve-chamber and the lower part of the same is arranged a dischargechannel, f, of smaller size than the supply-pipe E, said discharge channel extending at right angles through a laterally-extendingpipe, F, of the lower part of the valvechamber, said pipe F being pro- IOC) vided with a two-way cock, F, and a threaded end, to which latter a rubber tube may bc coupled in case the carbonic-acid gas that is conducted off through the valve-casing and discharge-channel is desired to be utilized. If this be not desired, the two-way cock is set so as to establish communication with a downwardly-extending channel, f', through which the carbonio-acid gas is then discharged directly to the atmosphere, as shown in Fig. 3. The discharge-channel f is closed by a valve, g, which is applied to a curved spring, G, that is attached to the under side of the diaphragm, as shown in Fig. 2. In place of the bent valvespring G, astop, g', that is hinged to a bracketarm, g2, at the under side of the diaphragm, and acted upon by a spiral spring, may be used, as shown in Fig. 4. The free lower end of the spring G or hinged strap g is guided by openings on upright lugs 71, and pressed by the weighted lever D on projecting shoulders or rests h of the lugs. (Shown in Fig. 5.) The lugs h are secured to the-bottom of the valve-chamber. Vhen the pressure on the eask or other vessel to which the regulatingvalve is applied rises above the normal pressure to which the weight is adjusted on the lever D, the diaphragm is raised, and thereby the valveg is lifted and placed into an inclined position relatively tothe valve-seat of the dischargechannel f, so as to partly open the discharge-opening d and permit the escape of gas until the normal pressure is re-established and the valve g pressed tightly on its valve-seat. The higher the pressure in the eask the more will the diaphragm, and consequently the spring and its valve, be raised. The outer end of the spring g retains its position on the shoulders of the lugs h except when an extra high pressure is exerted on the diaphragm, in which case the spring G is lifted bodily with its valve.

By pressures slightly above the normal pressure, the valve vibrates on the valve-seat without entirely opening the discharge-channel. The movements of the spring G, in following the motion of the diaphragm, cause the valve g to vibrate toward and away from the valveseat, and serve thereby to overcome a very objectionable feature of the pressure-regulating valves heretofore in use-namely, thc gumming of the same, owing to the saccharine matter in the beer or other liquids, by which gumming these valves were made to adhere to the valve-seats and rendered unreliable.

The lower section of the valve-chamber A is further provided with a laterally-extending pipe, Z, having a threaded end, which pipe eX- tends at right angles to the discharge-pipe of the valve-chamber, and is provided with a channel, communicating with the bottom of the valve-chamber, and with a stop-cock, Z', for opening or closing said channel. To the pipe l a hose is applied, so that when the stopcock Z is opened compressed air can be conducted through the valve-chamber to the interior of the cask or other vessel, so as to rack Off the beer or other fermented liquid in the same, whenever this is required. The valve and diaphragm regulate in this ease the pressure of the air in the same, manner as before and prevent a too great pressure being exerted on the cask, whereby the same may be injured.

I do not claim the arrangement of a conduit-pipe for compressed air, as this feature is well known in pressure-regulating valves used for the purpose described.

The main advantage of my improved valve construction is its high sensitiveness, even to small changes of pressure, owing to the arrangement ot` the valve'on a vibrating spring or strap and the diminished friction of the knife edged pivots of the weighted lever.

I am aware that safety-valves have been constructed with a diaphragm which served to close an opening, and that a spring has been used for pressing said diaphragm 'upon said Opening; but such device cannot have the rapid vibratory movements that the valve in my device has.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The combination, with a valve-easing having a valve chamber, and supply and discharge channels in communication with said valve-chamber, of aieXible and weighted diaphragm supported by the valve casing, a U- shaped spring applied to the underside ofthe diaphragm and provided with guide-openings at its outer end, a valve applied to the free arm of said spring, said valve resting on a valve-seat at the end of the discharge-channel, and lugs having rests for guiding and supporting the free outer end of the valve-spring, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANZ MARKGRAF.

XVitiiesscs:

PAUL GOEPEL, MARTIN Pn'rav. 

